February 22, Chair of Peter, Apostle
The Gospel
Matt 16:13-19,
You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church
St. Gaspar
The Archconfraternity under the very noble title of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ, established by your Holiness at the altar of the Crucifix in S. Nicola in Carcere, which has as its principle objective the propagation of the devotion and the frequenting of the sacraments by the people, not finding any better means for succeeding in this sublime purpose than the promotion of the practice of holy Missions, already carried out in various dioceses… so as to attain the aimed-for objective of the institution of the Archconfraternity, that is, that souls will be cleansed in the Blood of the Redeemer through the Sacrament of Penance. [1]
He is our shepherd. Because Jesus while praying to the Father calls out to us with inexpressible groanings,[2] he is also the Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep.[3] But in seeking his little flock, how reddened is the path of the good shepherd with blood. How costly we are to Jesus, oh [you his] faithful ones! He calls out to us with as many mouths as he has wounds. He shows us his opened heart: "Come," he says, to cleanse yourself in this blood. [4]
Reflection
We do not normally celebrate feasts about furniture. This feast focuses on the ministry of Peter, on his mission of teaching and on the unity of faith.
As we believe in the Word made flesh, in salvation becoming visible to us, we also rejoice in the visible church, in the outward signs of its sacraments, and in the word remaining visible in the ministries of the church and in the charity exercised among its members. Without that visible principle of unity in the successor of Peter we could well spin off into competing ideologies and theories, based on our own opinions and our individual efforts. Instead we belong to the body of Christ recognizing that the successor of Peter fills that office as head of the Body.
St. Gaspar had a great respect for the office and ministry of the Holy Father. He suffered exile with Pope Pius VII, rejoiced in his return to Rome, and responded to his wishes in exercising this ministry. He was also deeply pained with the Holy Father’s criticism based on false information, and he was not afraid to challenge the Holy Father on his decisions about the town of Sonnino.
The readings today challenge us on our willingness to serve as shepherds, to pour out our lives for another. As Jesus chose Peter, he also chooses us to follow him in a particular way, to give of ourselves in service to one another. St Gaspar is our example in his respect for the Successor of Peter, but also in his desire to shepherd the people in the Redeeming love of Christ.
[1] Letter to Pius VII, November 1818, petitioning the Holy Father for various faculties for the preaching of Missions
[2]Cf. Rm. 8:26.
[3]Cf. Jn. 10:15.
[4] From the Treatise by St. Gaspar del Bufalo, “In omnibus divites factis in Illo” The treatise is based on the text of
1 Cor. 1:5: "In everything you have been enriched in him."
The Gospel
Matt 16:13-19,
You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church
St. Gaspar
The Archconfraternity under the very noble title of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ, established by your Holiness at the altar of the Crucifix in S. Nicola in Carcere, which has as its principle objective the propagation of the devotion and the frequenting of the sacraments by the people, not finding any better means for succeeding in this sublime purpose than the promotion of the practice of holy Missions, already carried out in various dioceses… so as to attain the aimed-for objective of the institution of the Archconfraternity, that is, that souls will be cleansed in the Blood of the Redeemer through the Sacrament of Penance. [1]
He is our shepherd. Because Jesus while praying to the Father calls out to us with inexpressible groanings,[2] he is also the Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep.[3] But in seeking his little flock, how reddened is the path of the good shepherd with blood. How costly we are to Jesus, oh [you his] faithful ones! He calls out to us with as many mouths as he has wounds. He shows us his opened heart: "Come," he says, to cleanse yourself in this blood. [4]
Reflection
We do not normally celebrate feasts about furniture. This feast focuses on the ministry of Peter, on his mission of teaching and on the unity of faith.
As we believe in the Word made flesh, in salvation becoming visible to us, we also rejoice in the visible church, in the outward signs of its sacraments, and in the word remaining visible in the ministries of the church and in the charity exercised among its members. Without that visible principle of unity in the successor of Peter we could well spin off into competing ideologies and theories, based on our own opinions and our individual efforts. Instead we belong to the body of Christ recognizing that the successor of Peter fills that office as head of the Body.
St. Gaspar had a great respect for the office and ministry of the Holy Father. He suffered exile with Pope Pius VII, rejoiced in his return to Rome, and responded to his wishes in exercising this ministry. He was also deeply pained with the Holy Father’s criticism based on false information, and he was not afraid to challenge the Holy Father on his decisions about the town of Sonnino.
The readings today challenge us on our willingness to serve as shepherds, to pour out our lives for another. As Jesus chose Peter, he also chooses us to follow him in a particular way, to give of ourselves in service to one another. St Gaspar is our example in his respect for the Successor of Peter, but also in his desire to shepherd the people in the Redeeming love of Christ.
- Whom am I called to shepherd?
- What can I do to further the unity of my family, of my church?
- What must I do to gain greater respect for the Office of the Holy Father?
[1] Letter to Pius VII, November 1818, petitioning the Holy Father for various faculties for the preaching of Missions
[2]Cf. Rm. 8:26.
[3]Cf. Jn. 10:15.
[4] From the Treatise by St. Gaspar del Bufalo, “In omnibus divites factis in Illo” The treatise is based on the text of
1 Cor. 1:5: "In everything you have been enriched in him."
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